Improvement in combined billiard and dining table



M. BENSINGER. Combined Billiard and Dining Table.

No.2",083. Patented Jan. 7,1879.

".PETERS, PHQTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHYNGKON n C UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

MOSES BEN SINGER, OF GHIGAGO,'ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED BILLIARD AND DINING TABLE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 211,083, dated January7,1879; application filed November 26, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mosns BENSINGER, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented. an Improved Billiard and DiningTable Combined, which improve ment is fully described in the followingspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

The nature of my invention relates to a table one face of which isarranged with cushions for playing billiards thereon, while its oppositeface is plain, and which is supported centrally at its ends on twopivotal screws between the end standards of a frame, so as to balancetherein, and can be swung around for bringing either side up.

My invention consists in the peculiar device, in connection with thepivotalscrews, for bringing the table to and for looking it in a levelposition, as willbe more fully hereinafter explained.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the table inposition for playin g billiards thereon. Bi 2 represents an endelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section throughone of the pivots,

and Fig-4a section on a horizontal line through the pivot andtable-locking device.

A is the table, consisting of a rectangular Wooden frame, arranged onone side for billiards, with cushions a, in the usual manner,

and presenting a plain surface on its opposite side. This table issupported between the up per extremities of two [1 (inverted U) shapediron standards, B, connected by.two longitudinal iron brace-bars, b,which again are connected by cross-bars 0, thus forming a substantialframe of light and neat appearance. The upper ends of these standardsare centrally pierced each by a screw-bolt, D, having a semi-sphericalhead, with indentations for inserting a screw-driver; and the internalfaces of these standards have each an oblong recess in the line of saidscrew-holes and parallel with the floor-line upon which the tablefeetrest. An oblong narrow plate, E, is secured by wood-screws against thecentral portion of each end of the table parallel with and as close tothe edge of the plain table-face and as distant from the edge of thebilliard- .table face as the thickness of the billiardtable frame A willallow. These plates E are of exactly the size as the size of therecesses in the standards B, so as to enter the same and to make a closefit therewith. They have each a protuberance to one side of theircentral portion, which is sunk into the table edge, and which is boredand tapped for forming the nut for the pivotal bolts D.

The table-frame braces b and c are placed low enough not to interferewith the rotation of the table around the pivotal bolts D.

For converting this table from a billiard to a dining or library table,or vice versa, the bolts D are unscrewed until the plates E are out andclear off the recesses in the standards B, when the table may be swungin either direction one-half of a revolution, after which the screws Dare tightened again until the plates E have entered and are rigidlysecured within the recesses in said standards, whereby the table is atonce brought to the same level again after each conversion withoutrequiring adjustment. The plate E being nearer to the edge of the plaintable-face the change from a diningto abilliard table will bring it inevery instance to the required elevation for each particular purpose.

While this table is not in use it may be turned to a vertical positionin its frame and set against the wall, whereby it will. occupy lessroom.

The above-described device is very simple in construction, and thereforeit cannot easily get out of order. It enables a very rapid conversion ofthe table, and yet holds the same very firm in its required position.

What I claim as my invention is- The table A, being arranged on one sidefor billiards, and balancing on two pivotal bolts, D, between theframe-standards B, and having projecting plates E for enteringcorresponding sockets in said standards, for the purpose of lockingthesaid table in a horizontal position with either side up, constructedand arranged substantially in the manner set forth.

MOSES BENSINGER.

Witnesses:

EMIL H. FROMMANN, J ULIns J. COHEN.

